Rescue Scam Victims

Working abroad has been a path to economic stability for millions of Nepalis. Every year, youths leave the nation en masse as migrant workers in the hope of building a future out of poverty.  Dire paucity of gainful employment opportunities at home leaves many so desperate for foreign jobs that some easily fall prey to enticing job offers that promise not only quick bucks but are also significantly higher than local wages. 

 Sometimes, even educated ones, who are aware that traveling to destination countries is fraught with risk, fail to resist the temptation because the promise appears legitimate. It is this vulnerability that the scammers prey on. Whether it's being deceptively tricked into joining the Russian army or trafficked into countries proscribed for travel, news reports of Nepalis left stranded, trapped, and so in desperate need of rescue make frequent headlines. That's exactly what Nepalis involved in online scamming centres in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and other East Asian countries are experiencing these days. 

Hundreds are believed to be working in such centres. It is difficult to locate and reach out to them, as they are in conflict-prone areas, and the scam operators use satellite phones.  According to a recent news report carried by this daily, their rescue and subsequent repatriation have been hampered or delayed due to a lack of financial resources. Officials from the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok need to travel to other countries, like Cambodia, and stay there. The mission not getting additional budget to conduct rescue activities has meant that it has to manage with meagre resources available. 

It sometimes requests the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to facilitate the process. Making matters worse, the mission, which is also responsible for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), is understaffed. The repatriation process is also delayed if Nepalis are not sent home immediately. This means that if it is delayed even by a day, they have to undergo an anti-human trafficking screening, which generally takes about a month, if not longer. This screening is also conducted to check if the victim is genuine and has not acted as an agent for the scam centres.

 What has complicated the matter is the dearth of support from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, as the workers lack the labour permit from the government. Discussions now are focused on forming a joint mechanism to create a fund and facilitate the rescue and repatriation activities. The good news, however, is that the number of Nepalis rescued by the Embassy has been going up significantly over the past three years – from 68 in 2023/24 to 156 in 2024/25 to 168 in the past seven and a half months of the current fiscal year. That said, a hundred more are awaiting rescue. Many of them are required to pay substantial fines during the return process from Cambodia and, in some cases, serve long prison sentences for violating Cambodian immigration laws.

Through remittance, migrant workers sustain our economy. Since their safety is directly tied to the health of the economy, protecting them abroad protects economic stability. A country that protects its citizens builds international respect, strengthens diplomatic influence, and shows it prioritises the lives of its people over everything else. Citizens pay taxes, comply with laws, and contribute to their country. In return, the state must rescue them when in distress – outside or within the borders.